In 2010, Chris told our older son, Chad, “Go for it and chase your dream. I have no doubt you’ll make it.” (see my previous blog: Chasing a Dream)
Chad reached one dream last year—his first time to race in the Tour de France. Today he reached another dream: to win an Individual Time Trial (ITT) in a WorldTour—a Grand Tour—the Giro d’Italia (Italy’s version of the Tour de France for those who aren’t familiar with the cycling world).
The 21-stage race didn’t start out well for Chad’s Team Sunweb, with Tom Dumoulin, their main rider, abandoning the race after a bad crash in the fourth day. Chad ended upside down in a ditch during the same crash but was uninjured. (The ditch was overgrown with foliage, cushioning his fall.)
Three additional riders from his team later abandoned the race due to crashes or illness. They were down to four riders, so their game plan changed. Chad was finally able to focus on winning the individual time trials instead of sacrificing himself as a support rider for teammates. He finished sixth in one of the ITT’s in May. Yet he had his eye on the very last day of the race before the Giro even started. He told me stage 21 would be the ITT course that best suited him. He was right.
Today was his day to shine. Although he won, it was an emotional, bittersweet victory, as he thought of his dad many times throughout the day. Chad told CyclingTips.com, “I knew whenever the success came, the tears would also come immediately. Especially when I achieved the success that he sacrificed for, to give me this opportunity. I knew they’d come when I made good on that.”
Whenever Chad races, I always pray for his safety and for him to be able to do his best. I don’t pray for him to win. But today I did. He had the opportunity to win, and as hard as he worked, he deserved to win. And I know how much he wanted to win. He dedicated his victory to his father, who would be beaming with pride.
And we give our Father the glory for answered prayer.